Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki will be the first official foreign visitor for the newly re-elected government of Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan. Erdogan extended the official invitation in July and it is believed al-Maliki will be visiting Turkey on August 7, 2007.

After months of tensions between the Turkish and Iraqi governments over such issues as the PKK and Kirkuk, and the amassing of Turkish troops on the border with Iraq, this state visit comes at a crucial time. It has been apparent that both sides need to meet as Turkey is growing impatient with the security situation, but with crucial Parliamentary elections taking place in Turkey, the Erdogan government chose to concentrate on re-election and staving off any domestic political crises.